JP2020152015A - Information processing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus and a program capable of controlling so as to execute another job so that processing of the job does not exceed a deadline when the other job to which a deadline is not set is transmitted while executing a job to which a dead line is set.SOLUTION: A printer 2 includes control means 204 that controls so as to perform a second job in a case where the second job to which a deadline is not set is received while executing a first job to which a dead line is set, and in a case where the deadline of the first job is not exceeded even if the second job is executed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device and a program.

In recent years, a printing system that enables interrupt printing during mass printing has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The printing system described in Patent Document 1 sets a default priority for a job that performs mass printing, the priority of the interrupt job is higher than the priority set for the interrupt job, and the job being processed has a higher priority. If the page is being drawn, the process up to the end of the page is completed, the process is interrupted to print the interrupt job, and if the priority of the job that performs mass printing is higher, after the job that performs mass printing ends Provides a printing system that executes interrupt jobs.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-267176

If you execute a small number of interrupt jobs with no due date after the end of a large number of jobs with set delivery dates, execute the small number of interrupt jobs until the end of a large number of jobs with set delivery dates. Is not possible, so the end of a small number of interrupt jobs is delayed. On the other hand, if a small number of interrupt jobs with no set delivery date are executed in the middle of a large number of jobs with set delivery dates, the delivery date of a large number of jobs with set delivery dates may be hindered. There is.

An object of the present invention is to execute a job for which a delivery date has been set, and when another job for which a delivery date has not been set is transmitted, the other job is executed so that the processing of the job does not exceed the delivery date. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing device and a program that can be controlled in such a manner.

[1] When a second job for which a delivery date is not set is accepted during execution of a first job for which a delivery date is set, the delivery date of the first job is not exceeded even if the second job is executed. In this case, an information processing device including a control means for controlling the execution of the second job.
[2] The information processing apparatus according to [1], wherein the control means does not execute the second job when the delivery date of the first job is exceeded.
[3] The information according to the above [2], wherein the control means controls to change the discharge destination of the second job when the discharge destination of the first job and the discharge destination of the second job are the same. Processing equipment.
[4] The information processing device according to the above [3], wherein the discharge destination of the second job is a discharge destination that is easier for the user to take out than other discharge destinations among a plurality of discharge destinations.
[5] The information processing device according to [3], wherein the control means notifies the user of the changed discharge destination.
[6] The information processing device according to the above [4], wherein the control means displays the changed discharge destination in a display mode different from that of the other discharge destinations.
[7] The information processing according to the above [1], wherein the control means notifies the user of the completion of execution of the second job when the discharge destination of the first job and the discharge destination of the second job are the same. apparatus.
[8] The information processing device according to the above [7], wherein the control means controls to restart the first job when the extraction of the processing result of the second job is detected.
[9] The information processing device according to [1], wherein the control means does not execute the second job when the discharge destination of the first job and the discharge destination of the second job are the same.
[10] The information processing device according to the above [9], wherein the control means notifies the user that the second job is not executed.
[11] When the first job includes a printing process and a post-processing as a plurality of processes and has a break between the processes, the control means sets the second job at the longest break. The information processing apparatus according to the above [1], which controls to execute the above.
[12] The information processing apparatus according to [11], wherein the division in which the second job is executed is between the printing process and the post-processing.
[13] Whether or not the delivery date is exceeded is determined based on the remaining execution time of the process for which the delivery date of the first job is set, the execution time of the second job, and the job switching time. The information processing device described in.
[14] When the computer accepts a second job for which a delivery date has not been set during execution of a first job for which a delivery date has been set, even if the second job is executed, the delivery date for the first job If it does not exceed, a program for functioning as a control means for controlling the execution of the second job.

According to the inventions of claims 1, 13 and 14, when a job for which a delivery date has been set is being executed and another job for which a delivery date has not been set is accepted, the processing of the job does not exceed the delivery date. Can be controlled to execute other jobs.
According to the invention of claim 2, the job for which the delivery date is set can be preferentially executed.
According to the invention of claim 3, the discharge destination of the job for which the delivery date is set can be prioritized over the discharge destination of the job for which the delivery date is not set.
According to the inventions of claims 4 and 6, the processing result of a job for which a delivery date has not been set can be taken out more easily than other discharge destinations.
According to the invention of claim 5, it is possible to know that the discharge destination has been changed and the discharge destination after the change.
According to the invention of claim 7, it is possible to suppress the difficulty in obtaining the processing result of the job for which the delivery date is set by the processing result of the job for which the delivery date is set.
According to the invention of claim 8, the first job for which the delivery date is set can be restarted immediately after the processing result of the second job is taken out.
According to the inventions of claims 9 and 10, it is possible to suppress the mixture of the processing result of the first job and the processing result of the second job.
According to the inventions of claims 11 and 12, the second job can be executed at the longest delimiter.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a printer control system. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the print schedule of the group job in chronological order. 4 (a) to 4 (g) are views showing an example of a pop-up screen. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the printing system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of details of the operation of step S160 of the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of details of the operation of step S210 of the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of details of the operation of step S240 of the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of details of the operation of step S250 of the flowchart shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, components having substantially the same function are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

[Summary of Embodiment]
When the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment receives the second job for which the delivery date is not set during the execution of the first job for which the delivery date is set, the first job is executed even if the second job is executed. If the delivery date of the job is not exceeded, a control means for controlling the execution of the second job is provided.

[Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 10 includes a first terminal 1A, a plurality of second terminals 1B, and a printer 2 connected to the first terminal 1A and the second terminal 1B via a network 3. The number of the second terminal 1B may be one. The printer 2 is an example of an information processing device.

The network 3 is, for example, a communication network such as a LAN (local area network) or an intranet.

The printer 2 has a function as a production printer that performs production printing. Production printing refers to mass printing and printing that includes post-processing such as cutting and bookbinding.

The first terminal 1A and the second terminal 1B are realized by, for example, a computer. The first terminal 1A uses the printer 2 as a projection printer, and workflow software (hereinafter referred to as a workflow SW) is installed in order to cause the printer 2 to execute production printing. The second terminal 1B uses the printer 2 as an office machine.

The workflow SW is software for managing the operating status and printing schedule of the printer 2. The workflow SW transmits, for example, a collection of a plurality of jobs (hereinafter referred to as a group job) to the printer 2. In this case, the workflow SW creates and manages the print schedule of the group job. The group job is an example of the first job.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the print schedule of the group job in chronological order. The group job includes, for example, a plurality of jobs that perform processing such as printing, post-processing, packing, and shipping. In a print job, for example, a plurality of print data having different shipping destinations but having a common paper type are collectively printed on paper. The print job, for example, performs a process of printing and then discharging the printed matter to a destination set in advance by the workflow SW. The post-processing job performs post-processing such as cutting, bookbinding, and stapling.

The print schedule for a group job has an unprocessed delimiter between the plurality of jobs. The "separation" is, for example, the time from the completion of one job constituting the group job to the start of execution of the next job. In FIG. 3, the group job is composed of a print job, a post-processing job, a packing job, and a shipping job. The delimiter between the print job and the post-processing job is the longest than the other delimiters. The print job included in the group job may include, for example, a plurality of print data having different shipping destinations as processing targets. In such a case, even during the print job, there is a break shorter than the break between jobs between the print processes for each shipping destination. The delimiter in the print job is not limited to the print process for each shipping destination.

The second terminal 1B can transmit a job (hereinafter referred to as an interrupt job) to the printer 2 while the printer 2 is executing a group job. The interrupt job is, for example, a job that prints and discharges the printed matter to a predetermined discharge destination. The interrupt job may include post-processing such as cutting and bookbinding. The interrupt job is an example of the second job. The printed matter is an example of the processing result.

(Configuration of printer 2)
The printer 2 discharges the printed paper, the paper feeding unit 20 that feeds the paper to the printing unit 21, the post-processing unit 22 that performs post-processing on the paper (also referred to as printed matter) printed by the printing unit 21, and the printed paper. It has multiple discharge destinations. The paper feed unit 20 has a plurality of paper feed trays 20a.

The ejection destinations of the printer 2 include, for example, the tray name is the first stacker tray 23A of the stacker tray 1, the tray name is the second stacker tray 23B of the stacker tray 2, and the tray name is the first stacker ejection tray of the stacker ejection tray 1. 24A, the second stacker discharge tray 24B whose tray name is the stacker discharge tray 2, the finisher tray 25, the finisher discharge tray 26, the external finisher 27, and the like are included.

The first stacker tray 23A, the second stacker tray 23B, and the finisher tray 25 are configured to be capable of accumulating a large amount of printed matter. The first stacker discharge tray 24A, the second stacker discharge tray 24B, and the finisher discharge tray 26 are configured to be capable of accumulating a small amount of printed matter. These discharge trays 24A, 24B, 26 (hereinafter referred to as a top tray group) are arranged on the upper part of the printer 2. The top tray group is an example of a discharge destination in which the user can easily take the printed matter more than the other discharge destinations among the plurality of discharge destinations.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a control system of the printer 2. The printer 2 includes a control unit 200 that controls each unit of the printer 2, a storage unit 210 that stores various information, an operation display unit 220, an image input unit 230, an image output unit 240, and a communication unit 250. The discharge destination drive unit 260 and the post-processing unit 22 are provided.

The control unit 200 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an interface, and the like. By executing the program 211, the CPU functions as display control means 201, reception means 202, execution means 203, job control means 204, discharge destination control means 205, and the like. Each means 2001-205 will be described later. The display control means 201, the execution means 203, the job control means 204, and the discharge destination control means 205 are examples of the control means.

The storage unit 21 is composed of a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk, etc., and contains a program 211, a group job storage unit 212, a pop-up screen information 213, a switching time 214, an interrupt job storage unit 215, and the like. Including. The switching time 214 is an example of the job switching time.

The group job storage unit 212 stores information during processing of the group job and the group job. The group job includes setting information (for example, printing paper, ejection destination, next process start date and time, etc.) and print data. The next process start date and time is the date and time when the next job is started after the completion of one job constituting the group job. The next process start date and time is an example of the delivery date. As an example of the delivery date, the end time of the process (for example, print process) constituting the job (for example, print job) may be set, not limited to the start date and time of the next process. The group job is stored by the reception means 202. The information during processing of the group job includes the number of completed prints and the number of pages during processing of the group job. Information during processing of the group job is stored by the job control means 204.

The pop-up screen information 213 includes pop-up screens 221-226 (see FIGS. 4A to 4G) displayed on the operation display unit 220 by the display control of the display control means 201.

The switching time 214 is the total time of the time required from the job control means 204 canceling the group job to starting the processing of the interrupt job and the time required to restart the group job after the interrupt job is completed. is there. The switching time 214 is determined depending on the performance of the printer 2.

The interrupt job storage unit 215 stores the interrupt job received by the reception means 202. The interrupt job includes setting information (for example, the number of prints, the number of pages, the discharge destination, etc.) and print data. When the interrupt job is executed, the print data is printed on the paper based on the setting information, and the printed matter is ejected to the specified ejection destination.

The operation display unit 220 has, for example, a configuration in which a touch panel is superposed on a display such as a liquid crystal display, displays various screens on the display screen, and accepts operations from the user to the touch panel.

The image input unit 230 includes, for example, a scanner and an automatic document feeder, and reads an image from a document placed on a platen or a document sent from the automatic document feeder.

The image output unit 240 forms an image on a recording medium such as paper and outputs it by, for example, an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.

The communication unit 250 controls the network and receives the group job and the interrupt job transmitted from the first terminals 1A and 1B via the network 3.

The discharge destination drive unit 260 has, for example, a guide member and an actuator such as a motor or a solenoid that operates the guide member, and switches the discharge destination of the printed matter based on the control by the discharge destination control means 205. The discharge destination drive unit 260 switches the discharge destination of the printed matter by driving the actuators arranged at each discharge destination to change the direction of the guide member.

The post-processing unit 22 performs post-processing including cutting, bookbinding, stapling, etc. on the printed matter generated by the printing unit 21 based on the control by the discharge destination control means 205.

Next, each means 201 to 207 of the control unit 200 will be described.

The display control means 201 reads out the pop-up screens 221 to 226 included in the pop-up screen information 213, displays them on the operation display unit 220, and receives the contents of the operation performed on the pop-up screens 221-226.

The receiving means 202 receives the group job and the interrupt job from the first terminal 1A and the second terminal 1B. The reception means 202 acquires the next process start date and time tun from the group job.

The execution means 203 executes a group job, an interrupt job, and the like. When the discharge destination of the group job and the discharge destination of the interrupt job are the same, the execution means 203 may control to restart the group job after the extraction of the processing result of the interrupt job is detected by the photo sensor or the like. Further, the execution means 203 may not execute the interrupt job when the discharge destination of the group job and the discharge destination of the interrupt job are the same. In this case, it is preferable that the execution means 203 displays on the operation display unit 202 that the interrupt job is not executed, or notifies the second terminal 1B to notify the user.

The job control means 204 calculates the estimated remaining time Tg until the printing of the group job is completed from the number of prints included in the print job setting information and the like. Further, the job control means 204 calculates the estimated remaining time Ti from the start of the interrupt printing process based on the interrupt job to the completion of printing from the number of prints included in the setting information of the interrupt job. Further, the job control means 204 acquires the switching time 214 as the switching time Ts from the storage unit 210. The estimated remaining time until the printing of the group job is completed means the estimated time from the reception of the interrupt job to the completion of printing of the group job. The estimated remaining time from the start of the interrupt printing process to the completion of printing means the estimated time from the start of the interrupt printing process to the completion of printing. The predicted remaining time Tg is an example of the remaining execution time of the first job. The predicted remaining time Ti is an example of the execution time of the second job.

The job control means 204 calculates the total time Ta (see FIG. 3) from the acquired time and the calculated time by the following equation (1).
Ta = Ti + Ts + Tg ・ ・ ・ (1)
However, Ti: Estimated remaining time from the start of interrupt printing processing to the completion of printing
Ts: Switching time
Tg: Estimated remaining time until printing of group job is completed

The job control means 204 acquires the time when the reception means 202 receives the interrupt job, that is, the current time ct from the reception means 202, acquires the next process start date and time tun from the group job, and uses the following equation (2) to obtain the following. The difference Td (see FIG. 3) between the process start date and time tn and the current time tc is calculated.
Td = tn-tk ... (2)
However, tun: next process start date and time
tk: Current time

From the total time Ta and the difference Td, the job control means 204 determines whether or not the interrupt job affects the print schedule of the group job depending on whether or not the following equation (3) is satisfied.
Td> Ta ... (3)
However, Td: The difference between the next process start date and time tn and the current time ct.
Ta: Total time

That is, when the job control means 204 satisfies the above equation (3) (for example, when the predicted remaining time Ti in FIG. 3 is A prediction), the interrupt job does not affect the print schedule of the group job, so that the interrupt job is executed. Judge that it can be executed. If the above equation (3) is not satisfied (for example, when the predicted remaining time Ti in FIG. 3 is B prediction), it is determined that the interrupt job cannot be executed because the interrupt job affects the print schedule of the group job.

The job control means 204 cancels the executing group job when an interrupt job is received during execution of the group job, and when the break in the print job included in the group job is completed, and the break in the print job is completed. Information during processing such as the number of completed prints and the number of pages up to is stored in the group job storage unit 212, and the interrupt print process described later or the interrupt print process forcibly performed (hereinafter referred to as forced interrupt print process) is executed. After the processing is completed, information during processing such as the number of printed group jobs and the number of pages is read from the group job storage unit 212, and control is performed to restart the execution of the group job based on these. The interrupt print process is a print process that is interrupted and executed when the print job of the group job is not being executed. The forced interrupt print process is a print process that is interrupted and executed during the execution of a print job of a group job.

The discharge destination control means 205 determines the discharge destination of the printed matter generated by the group job based on the group job, and reads out the discharge destination of the printed matter generated by the interrupt job from the interrupt job storage unit 215 and determines the discharge destination. The discharge destination control means 205 controls the discharge destination drive unit 260.

When the discharge destination of the printed matter generated by the group job and the printed matter generated by the interrupt job are the same, the discharge destination control means 205 executes the discharge destination determination process described later. The discharge destination control means 205 controls the discharge destinations of the group job and the interrupt job based on the result of the discharge destination determination process.

The discharge destination control means 205 may control to change the discharge destination of the interrupt job when the discharge destination of the group job and the discharge destination of the interrupt job are the same. In this case, the discharge destination of the interrupt job is preferably a discharge destination that is easier for the user to take out than other discharge destinations among the plurality of discharge destinations. Further, it is preferable that the discharge destination control means 205 displays the changed discharge destination on the operation display unit 202 or transmits it to the second terminal 1B to notify the user. The discharge destination control means 205 may display the changed discharge destination in a display mode different from that of other discharge destinations. Further, when the discharge destination of the group job and the discharge destination of the interrupt job are the same, the discharge destination control means 205 displays the completion of the execution of the interrupt job on the operation display unit 202 or transmits it to the second terminal 1B. The user may be notified.

(Operation of the embodiment)
Next, an example of the operation of the printing system 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the printing system 10.

The first terminal 1A activates the workflow SW and creates a group job for executing production printing (S110).

The first terminal 1A transmits a group job to the printer 2 via the network 3 (S120).

The receiving means 202 of the printer 2 accepts the transmitted group job, stores the group job in the group job storage unit 212, and acquires the next process start date and time tn from the group job (S130).

The execution means 203 of the printer 2 starts executing the group job. The discharge destination control means 205 determines the discharge destination of the printed matter generated by the execution of the print job of the execution means 203 based on the group job, and controls the discharge destination drive unit 260 based on this determination.

The second terminal 1B transmits an interrupt job to the printer 2 via the network 3 (S140).

The receiving means 202 accepts an interrupt job, stores the interrupt job in the interrupt job storage unit 215, and determines whether or not the print process included in the group job is being executed (S150). When the print process included in the group job is not being executed (S150: No), the execution means 203 executes the interrupt print process based on the interrupt job (S240). The operation of the interrupt printing process will be described later with reference to FIG.

When the print process included in the group job is being executed (S150: Yes), the job control means 204 determines whether or not the interrupt job affects the print schedule of the group job (S160). The details of the determination will be described later with reference to FIG.

When the job control means 204 determines that the interrupt job cannot be executed because the interrupt job affects the print schedule of the group job (S170: Yes), the display control means 201 displays the pop-up screen 221 (FIG. 4A). Refer to) is read from the pop-up screen information 213 and displayed on the operation display unit 220 (S171).

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of a pop-up screen 221 displaying "In the case of interrupt job execution, the interrupt job cannot be executed because the group job is not completed by the delivery date". The pop-up screen 221 includes a "yes" button 221a. When the "Yes" button 221a is operated, the execution means 203 continues executing the group job (S260).

When the job control means 204 determines that the interrupt job can be executed because the interrupt job does not affect the print schedule of the group job (S170: No), the discharge destination control means 205 is stored in the group job storage unit 212. The discharge destination of the group job is determined based on the information provided (S180). The discharge destination control means 205 reads the discharge destination from the interrupt job stored in the interrupt job storage unit 215 and determines the discharge destination (S190).

The job control means 204 determines whether or not the discharge destination of the group job and the discharge destination of the interrupt job are the same (S200). If the discharge destinations are not the same (S200: No), the executing means 202 starts executing the interrupt printing process described later (S240), and after the interrupt printing process is completed, restarts the execution of the group job.

When the discharge destinations are the same (S200: Yes), the discharge destination control means 205 executes the discharge destination determination process (S210). The details of the discharge destination determination process will be described later with reference to FIG. 7.

After the discharge destination determination process is completed (S210), the display control means 201 reads the pop-up screen 222 (see FIGS. 4 (b) and 4 (c)) from the pop-up screen information 213 and displays it on the operation display unit 220.

4 (b) and 4 (c) are diagrams showing an example of a pop-up screen 222 for selecting the interrupt job discharge destination 222a when the discharge destinations of the group job and the interrupt job are the same. The pop-up screen 222 includes a "destination selection" button 222a, a "yes" button 222b, and a "no" button 222c. When the "discharge destination selection" button 222a is operated, a pull-down menu is displayed as shown in FIG. 4C, and the discharge destination of the interrupt job can be selected. Of the discharge destinations displayed by the pull-down menu with the “Select discharge destination” button 222a, the top tray group that is easy for the user to take out may be highlighted in blue or the like.

When the "Yes" button 222b of the pop-up screen 222 is operated (S220: Yes), the discharge destination control means 205 selects the discharge destination of the printed matter printed by the interrupt job with the "Discharge destination selection" button 222a. The discharge destination drive unit 260 is controlled so as to change first. The execution means 203 starts executing the interrupt printing process described later (S240), and resumes the execution of the group job after the interrupt printing process is completed.

When the "No" button 222b of the pop-up screen 222 is operated (S220: No), the display control means 201 reads the pop-up screen 223 (see FIG. 4D) from the pop-up screen information 213 and displays it on the operation display unit 220. Display (S230).

FIG. 4D is a diagram showing an example of a pop-up screen 223 for selecting whether or not to start execution of the forced interrupt printing process. The pop-up screen 223 includes a "yes" button 223a and a "no" button 223b. When the "No" button 223b is operated (S230: No), the display control means 201 displays the pop-up screen 224 (FIG. 4 (e)) indicating that "interrupt job execution is not possible due to duplication of discharge destinations" from the pop-up screen information 213. (See) is read and displayed on the operation display unit 220.

FIG. 4E is a diagram showing an example of a pop-up screen 224 indicating that “interrupt job execution is not possible due to duplication of discharge destinations”. The pop-up screen 224 includes a "yes" button 224a. When the "Yes" button 224a is operated, the execution means 203 continues executing the group job (S260).

When the "Yes" button 223a of the pop-up screen 223 is operated (S230: Yes), the executing means 203 starts executing the forced interrupt printing process (S250). The content of the forced interrupt printing process will be described later with reference to FIG. After the forced interrupt printing process is completed, the execution means 203 resumes the execution of the group job.

(Processing to determine whether it affects the print schedule)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the details of step S160 shown in FIG.

The job control means 204 calculates the estimated remaining time Tg from the start of the currently executing group job to the completion of printing (S161), and calculates the estimated remaining time Ti from the start of the interrupt printing process (S240) to the completion of printing (S162). ), The switching time 214 is read out from the storage unit 210 as the switching time Ts (S163).

The job control means 204 adds the predicted remaining time Tg, the predicted remaining time Ti, and the switching time Ts to calculate the total time Ta, obtains the current time ct from the receiving means 202, and obtains the current time ct in step S120. The difference Td = tn−tc between the process start date and time tn and the current time ct is calculated.

The job control means 204 determines whether or not the interrupt printing process (S240) affects the printing schedule of the group job based on the total time Ta and the difference Td (S164). That is, when the total time Ta exceeds the difference Td = tt-tk between the next process start date and time nt and the current time ct (Td <Ta), the interrupt print process affects the print schedule of the group job, so that the interrupt job Judges as infeasible. When the total time Ta is less than or equal to the difference Td, it is determined that the interrupt printing process does not affect the printing schedule of the group job.

(Discharge destination determination process (S210))
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the details of step S210 of the flowchart shown in FIG.

The discharge destination control means 205 acquires the discharge destination configuration of the current group job from the execution means 203 (S211), and acquires the discharge destination that is not used in the processing of the current group job (S212).

The discharge destination control means 205 determines whether or not the top tray group is included in the discharge destination that is not used in the processing of the group job (S213). When the top tray group is included (S213: Yes), the discharge destination control means 205 is in the top tray group in which the discharge destination of the interrupt printing process (S240) or the forced interrupt printing process (S250) is not used in the group job processing. The discharge destination closest to the printing unit 20 is determined (S214). When the top tray group is not included (S213: No), the discharge destination control means 205 does not use the discharge destination of the interrupt printing process (S240) or the forced interrupt printing process (S250) in the processing of the group job. The discharge destination closest to the printing unit 20 is determined (S215). The other tray group is composed of, for example, a first stacker tray 23A, a second stacker tray 23B, a finisher tray 25, and an external finisher 27.

(Operation of interrupt printing process (S240))
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the details of step S240 shown in FIG.

The execution means 203 executes the print job included in the group job (S241). The job control means 204 determines whether or not printing has been completed up to the break in the print job of the group job (S242). When printing is not completed until the break in the print job (S242: No), the execution means 203 continues the execution of the print job included in the group job (S241).

When the job control means 204 determines that the process has been completed up to the break in the print job (S242: Yes), the job control means 204 cancels the currently executing group job, and the number of printed group jobs and the page. Information being processed such as a number is stored in the group job storage unit 212 (S243).

Next, the executing means 203 executes the interrupt printing process (S244). When the execution means 203 completes the interrupt print process (S245: Yes), the job control means 204 outputs information during processing such as the number of completed prints and the number of pages of the group job canceled from the group job storage unit 212. The read / execute means 203 resumes the execution of the print job included in the group job (S246).

(Forced interrupt printing process (S250))
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the details of step S250 of the flowchart shown in FIG.

The execution means 203 executes the print job included in the group job (S251). The job control means 204 determines whether or not printing has been completed up to the break in the print job of the group job (S252). If printing is not completed until the print job is separated (S252: No), the execution means 203 continues the execution of the group job (S251).

When the job control means 204 determines that printing has been completed up to the break in the print job (S252: Yes), the job control means 204 cancels the currently executing group job, and the number of completed prints of the group job and the page. Information being processed such as a number is stored in the group job storage unit 212 (S253).

Next, the executing means 203 executes the forced interrupt printing process (S254). When the executing means 203 completes the forced interrupt printing process (S255: Yes), the display control means 201 reads the pop-up screen 225 (see FIG. 4F) from the pop-up screen information 213 and displays it on the operation display unit 220. (S256).

FIG. 4F is a diagram showing an example of a pop-up screen 225 indicating that the forced interrupt printing process has been completed. The pop-up screen 225 includes a "yes" button 225a. When the "Yes" button 225a is operated and the "Start" button of the printer 2 is operated (S257), the display control means 201 reads the pop-up screen 226 (see FIG. 4 (g)) from the pop-up screen information 213. It is displayed on the operation display unit 220 (S258).

FIG. 4 (g) is a diagram showing an example of a pop-up screen 226 indicating that the group job is restarted. The pop-up screen 226 includes a "yes" button 226a. When the "Yes" button 226a is operated, the job control means 204 reads the processing information such as the number of completed prints and the number of pages of the canceled group job from the group job storage unit 212, and the execution means 203 reads the group job. Is resumed (S259).

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and implementations are possible without changing the gist of the present invention. is there.

Each means of the control unit 200 may be composed of hardware circuits such as a reconfigurable circuit (FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array) and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which are partially or wholly reconfigurable. Good.

Further, it is possible to omit or change a part of the constituent elements of the above-described embodiment without changing the gist of the present invention.

In addition, steps can be added, deleted, changed, replaced, etc. in the flow of the above-described embodiment without changing the gist of the present invention. Further, the program used in the above embodiment can be recorded and provided on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Further, the program used in the above embodiment can be stored in an external server such as a cloud server and used via a network.

1A ... 1st terminal, 1B ... 2nd terminal, 2 ... printer, 3 ... network, 10 ... printing system, 20 ... paper feed unit, 20a ... paper feed tray, 21 ... printing unit, 22 ... post-processing unit, 23A ... 1st stacker tray, 23B ... 2nd stacker tray, 24A ... 1st stacker discharge tray, 24B ... 2nd stacker discharge tray, 25 ... finisher tray, 26 ... finisher discharge tray, 27 ... external finisher, 200 ... control unit , 201 ... Display control means, 202 ... Reception means, 203 ... Execution means, 204 ... Job control means, 205 ... Discharge destination control means, 210 ... Storage unit, 211 ... Program, 212 ... Group job storage unit, 213 ... Pop-up screen Information, 214 ... Switching time, 215 ... Interrupt job storage unit, 220 ... Operation display unit, 230 ... Image input unit, 240 ... Image output unit, 250 ... Communication unit, 260 ... Discharge destination drive unit

Claims (14)

If a second job for which a delivery date is not set is accepted during execution of a first job for which a delivery date is set, and the delivery date for the first job is not exceeded even if the second job is executed, A control means for controlling the execution of the second job,
Information processing device equipped with. The control means does not execute the second job when the delivery date of the first job is exceeded.
The information processing device according to claim 1. When the discharge destination of the first job and the discharge destination of the second job are the same, the control means controls to change the discharge destination of the second job.
The information processing device according to claim 2. The discharge destination of the second job is a discharge destination that is easier for the user to take out than the other discharge destinations among the plurality of discharge destinations.
The information processing device according to claim 3. The control means notifies the user of the changed discharge destination.
The information processing device according to claim 3. The control means displays the changed discharge destination in a display mode different from that of the other discharge destinations.
The information processing device according to claim 4. When the discharge destination of the first job and the discharge destination of the second job are the same, the control means notifies the user of the completion of the execution of the second job.
The information processing device according to claim 1. The control means controls to restart the first job when the extraction of the processing result of the second job is detected.
The information processing device according to claim 7. The control means does not execute the second job when the discharge destination of the first job and the discharge destination of the second job are the same.
The information processing device according to claim 1. The control means notifies the user that the second job is not executed.
The information processing device according to claim 9. The first job includes a print process and a post-process as a plurality of processes, and when there is a break between the processes, the control means executes the second job at the break having the longest break time. Control,
The information processing device according to claim 1. The delimiter on which the second job is executed is between the printing process and the post-processing.
The information processing device according to claim 11. Whether or not the delivery date is exceeded is determined based on the remaining execution time of the process for which the delivery date of the first job is set, the execution time of the second job, and the job switching time.
The information processing device according to claim 1. Computer,
If a second job for which a delivery date is not set is accepted during execution of a first job for which a delivery date is set, and the delivery date for the first job is not exceeded even if the second job is executed, A control means for controlling the execution of the second job,
A program to function as.